EyeCare America®

EyeCare America provides eye care to US citizens and legal residents through volunteer ophthalmologists, often at no out-of-pocket cost to those who qualify. Visit www.aao.org/eyecareamerica to find out if you or someone you know qualifies for eye care. More than 90 percent of care provided is at no out-of-pocket cost to EyeCare America patients.

To be eligible for the Seniors program, you:

Are a U.S. citizen or legal resident

Are age 65 or older

Do not belong to an HMO or have eye care benefits through the VA

Have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years.

If you are not eligible for the Seniors program, you may qualify for the Glaucoma Program, which provides a glaucoma eye exam at no cost to those who are uninsured.

To be eligible for the Glaucoma program, you:

Are a U.S. citizen or legal resident

Do not belong to an HMO or have eye care benefits through the VA

Have not had an eye exam in 12 months or more

Are at increased risk for glaucoma, determined by your age, race, and family history of glaucoma

Participating hospitals and other healthcare facilities provide medical care for free, or at reduced cost, to those who meet eligibility requirements based on family size and income. Procedures covered vary from hospital to hospital. A list of assisting sites available in your state is located online.

Medicaid

Information and assistance can be found at the Medicare.gov website and the individual state Medicaid websites (see our “Medicaid by State” page). Generally, the best place to start is the Medicaid office of your particular state — most of the numbers listed here are for program issues and general questions and information.

Medicare

Medicare beneficiaries, family members, and caregivers can visit Medicare.gov, the Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare, for the latest information on Medicare enrollment, benefits, and other helpful tools.

Mission Cataract USA

* Please note – you will receive a voice message when you call this number. Leave your contact info and someone will return your call. You can also visit their website for more information. Coordinated by the Volunteer Eye Surgeon’s Association, it is a program providing free cataract surgery to people of all ages who have no other means to pay. Surgeries are scheduled annually on one day, usually in May.

National Federation of the Blind

They work to improve social and economic conditions of blind persons by providing evaluations of present programs and assistance in establishing new ones; awards scholarships to blind persons; has a public education program including speakers’ bureau; and has several special interest divisions, including those for diabetics, educators, lawyers, parents of blind children, students and public employees. The National Federation of the Blind has affiliates in all fifty states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, and over seven hundred local chapters.

New Eyes for the Needy

New Eyes provides new prescription eyeglasses to children and adults in need living in the United States (which they can apply for through a social service or primary care doctor referral). We accept used glasses to distribute to the poor throughout the developing world (due to federal regulations, used glasses cannot be distributed in the U.S.). Information on how to apply to our program can be found on our website www.new-eyes.org.

Patient Access Network Foundation

The Foundation operates co-pay assistance programs for patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Macular Edema, Retinal Vein Occlusion and Uveitis. To qualify, patients should be insured and the insurance must cover the medication for which the patient seeks assistance, must reside and receive treatment in the United States, and must have a household income below 500% ($78,650 for a family of two) of the Federal Poverty Level (below 400%/$58,350 for Uveitis). Qualifying patients can receive $4,000/year for Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema; $5,000/year for Retinal Vein Occlusion; and $1,500/year for Uveitis.

Public Aid

Check with your state, county, or city office.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)

Contact your local Medicare office for information on qualifying.

Salvation Army

Contact your local office.

Senior Centers

Contact your local center to see if they have financial resource information in your area.

Sight for Students, a Vision Service Plan (VSP)

Contact your local Prevent Blindness America affiliate for more details. This program is in partnership with The Entertainment Industry Foundation, and provides eye exams and glasses to children 18 years old and younger whose families cannot afford vision care.

Social Security Administration (SSA)

Call your local Social Security Administration office for information on qualifying.

Social Workers

Contact a social worker at a hospital or other community agency. Social workers are often knowledgeable about community resources that can help people facing financial and medical problems.

Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)

Call your local Medicare office for information.

United Way

Check with your local office.

VISION USA

VISION USA, an Optometry Cares program, provides free eye exams to low-income Americans across the U.S. Patients cannot have had an eye examination in the past 24 months. Applications may be obtained on the AOA website, along with more information. You must work with a charitable organization, social worker, case worker, community health agency to submit an application. Applicants are to provide proof of household income for verification of income level eligibility.